(1926 – 1993)
The Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame - 1997 Builder Inductee
Born in Eastview (Vanier/Ottawa), Ontario, John Corrigan began his career in radio at CKOY, operating the equipment at night for no pay in order to gain experience in the industry. At the same time, he was taking voice lessons from radio personality Lorne Greene, who was operating a training school for broadcasters. In 1949, John’s dream came true, and he was hired as a radio announcer on the midnight shift at CKOY.
In 1952, John moved to CFRA, where he worked promoting country music and announcing the sports until October 1956. During that period, he found time to manage Ottawa Hall of Famer Bob King’s career and was instrumental in getting Bob signed with RCA Victor Records.
Encouraged by Doc and Chickie Williams with whom he had become friends, John moved to the United States to work at and subsequently become station manager of WMOD Radio in Moundsville, West Virginia, where he became the director of the Wheeling Jamboree. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to General Manager of the station.
In 1965, John left WWVA to go to South Florida, where he worked at several radio stations as well as devoting a good portion of his time to the religious community. John spent the latter years of his career transforming a part-time, four-hour-a-day television station run by the Coral Ridge, Florida Presbyterian Church into a highly successful 24 hour religious format. Over the years, John produced several religious albums and cassette tapes and also worked at Coral Ridge Ministries, a nationally-televised program where he was the voice-over talent until his death in 1993.
Source: http://www.ottawacountrymusichof.org/members/1997/john_corrigan.htm
